Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its historic Michigan state debut on Saturday night with a night of breathtaking knockouts at the sold-out Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI. The event was broadcast worldwide via the BKFC app.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Main Event, in Grand Rapids, MI cruiserweight contender Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez punched his way to 5-1 with his fifth first-round victory in a stunning first-round knockout over previously undefeated Zac Cavender. Rodriguez floored Cavender twice before their electric fight was stopped just 70 seconds into the opening round.
Rodriguez took aim at Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara, the newly crowned BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion, in his post-fight interview: “Fasten your seatbelt, baby! I told you I’m coming and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”
Added BKFC Founder/President David Feldman: “We have a new star in BKFC, and his name is Esteban Rodriguez. What a great performance from him and Zac Cavender, and an absolutely amazing event here in Michigan!”
Cavender, who represents Las Vegas, is now 2-1 under the BKFC banner.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Co-Main Event, undefeated Nathan “The Reaper” Rivera moved to 5-0 by knocking out former BKFC featherweight world title challenger Tommy “The Farmer” Strydom. Atlanta product Rivera sent Strydom to the canvas twice before their highly anticipated 145-pound battle was stopped 34 seconds into the third round.
Rivera, who entered fight night as the No. 3 contender in the BKFC featherweight division, called out fellow undefeated BKFC featherweight star Edgard “The Dreamkiller” Plazaola (6-0) in his post-fight interview: “I’ve called him up (before) and he’s been on the run. When you see him, there’s a cash reward on his head.”
Strydom, from Johannesburg, South Africa, is now 4-1 at the Squared Circle.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Featured Fight, Detroit native Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer earned his second consecutive and fifth overall BKFC victory with a second-round stoppage of previously undefeated Taylor “Ragin’” Bull in the light heavyweight division. The time of the stoppage was 1:47 into round 2 and followed a pair of knockdowns from Creer. Bull, who hails from Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada, entered fight night with an unblemished overall record of 4-0. Creer is now 5-3.
Holland, MI’s Erick “El Travieso” Lozano recorded five knockdowns in his one-sided unanimous decision over Tylor “Redbird” Sijohn in cruiserweight action. Two judges scored the fight 50-40 and one 48-42, all for Lozano, who is now 3-5. Sijohn, representing Worley, ID, moves to 0-3.
Livonia, MI bantamweight Justin “The Nightmare” Street increased his record to 3-2 with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over AJ “A-Train” Craig. Two judges scored the fight 50-45 and one 49-46, all in favor of Street, who has now won back-to-back fights. The Billings, MT product Craig is now 2-3 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.
Clinton Township, MI’s Mike “The Hurricane” Hernandez turned heads during his BKFC premiere by “The Mexican Muscle” Antonio Castillo Jr. via second-round stoppage in their featherweight bout. The time of the stoppage was 1:15 into the second frame. Castillo Jr., a product of Massillon, OH, also made his BKFC debut.
Undefeated Hurricane, UT light heavyweight David “The Sandman” Sanchez punched his way to 2-0 with a second-round technical knockout over debuting Detroit fighter Terryl “Taj Mahal” Johnson. The interruption came at 1:19 into the second stanza. Both of Sanchez’s victories came by knockout.
Oleg Magkeev of Ossetia, Russia, was victorious in his BKFC debut, stopping Eric “BrotherVibe” Westbury 13 seconds into the second round of their light-heavyweight matchup. Westbury, a product of Washington, D.C., also made his BKFC debut.
Mattoon, IL welterweight Casey “The Lawless” Moses picked himself up from the canvas and rallied for a 57-second knockout against Paul “The Slayer” Schiller. Moses is now 1-1, while Schiller, a native of Kenosha, WI, is now 0-1.
Fort Madison, IA upstart Aubrey “Merciless” Mendonca needed just 22 seconds to steamroll Junior “The Joker” Hicks in their meeting of debuting cruiserweight prospects. Hicks represents Greenfield, IA.
Detroit’s “P-Dott Da Knockout Artist” Parris Boyd was spectacular in his BKFC premiere, sending Ruben “The Beast” Arroyo to the canvas twice en route to a 31-second victory in their lightweight matchup. Arroyo, a product of El Paso, Texas, is now 0-3.
BKFC Fight Night Michigan Results
Esteban Rodriguez def. Zac Cavender via TKO in round 1 (1:10)
Nathan Rivera def. Tommy Strydom via technical knockout in round 3 (0:34)
Joseph Creer def. Taylor Bull via TKO in round 2 (1:47)
Erick Lozano def. Tylor Sijohn via unanimous decision (50-40×2, 48-42)
Justin Street final. AJ Craig via unanimous decision (50-45×2, 49-46)
Mike Hernandez def. Antonio Castillo Jr. via TKO in round 2 (1:15)
David Sanchez def. Terryl Johnson via TKO in round 2 (1:19)
Oleg Magkeev def. Eric Westbury via TKO in round 2 (0:13)
Casey Moses def. Paul Schiller via KO in round 1 (0:57)
Aubrey Mendonca def. Junior Hicks via KO in round 1 (0:22)
Parris Boyd def. Ruben Arroyo via TKO in round 1 (0:31)
#Esteban #Mohawk #Rodriguez #victorious #BKFCs #Michigan #debut